This was the kids outside during their recess. They were running around with the chickens and goats completely happy. 

The children loved posing for pictures and then looking at them on our cameras. This was taken during their lunch time.

Hindu and Muslim women learning to make hand crafts at the school. They can also take typing and tailoring classes.

Children at the Aman Shanti school, which is set up to integrate Hindu and Muslim children to promote tolerance in the Old City of Hyderabad.

Three girls enjoying the picnic area of the festival with their families.

One of our coordinators, Maduri, offering a coconut before entering the temple. This sacrifice was explained to us as one of the "vegetarian" type.  Inside the temple you can wrap  the coconut in a red bag and hang it from the wall. Many women do this in hopes that it will bring them a baby.

 A goat on its way to be sacrificed during the Festival of Banalu.

My roommate, Sarah, trying to decide which salwar should go with which kameez!

Our rickshaw to Shilparamam. Cecilia is under Sarah and I hopped out to take the photo!

Some Indian Quirks

 

Namaste- a greeting signified by bringing both hand together and bowing the head a bit. One hand represents divinity while the other represents “the worldly self”. While it is derived from Hinduism it is a cross-religious greeting in India.

 

The head bobble- a way of saying “ok”, generally, although it often looks like a sign of annoyance. Indians do it without thinking by simply bobbling their head from side, kind of like a sideways nod. It’s contagious!

 

Writing things down- not too popular. Anything that involves documentation is not valued here. We are told to ask where to get somewhere because maps aren’t used or accurate. Teachers decide when a test will be and then tell one or two students assuming it will be passed along. A class list isn’t presented until a week before courses start. Teachers will not e-mail. This is how it is.

 

Continual use of car horn- L.A’s got nothing on the streets of Hyderabad. Since lanes mean nothing in a street and side mirrors are not very common it is necessary to honk every time you pass by another vehicle. There are generally four to five vehicle-wide situations with a mixture of buses, rickshaws, mopeds, and sometimes cows. Most horns sound a lot like a clown nose, which is fitting because you are definitely in a circus! (I also imagine it is the sound a heffalump would make, if that helps.)

 

Crossing the street- Crosswalks, who needs them? Simply stick out your hand and walk confidently through the multiple lanes of traffic. It is common for motor vehicle operators to break hard or swerve to avoid you. Off-roading is also not uncommon. I think I would have just as much luck crossing the street safely with my eyes closed. It’s a miracle every time we make it!

Culture Shock

It hit me before I was  expecting it (I guess that's the shock part). The Chicago O'Hare Airport is a confusing place, so I ended up having to run to catch my flight. I was the only person in the jet way and when I reached the plane door it hit me. My flight attendant was wearing a beautiful orange Sari and greeted me by putting both of her hands together and saying "namaste".  My first taste of India was  Air India flight 126 from Chicago to Frankfurt. I was stared at as I slowly made my way to the back of the plane. I found my self needing eye contact from the other white girl on the plane to feel like I wasn't alone. After I had taken my seat a man from the other side of the plane decided he should come over and talk to me (I didn't know whether to be friendly or ignore him so I settled on an awkward combination of two).  After I had time to adjust a little bit I realized how colorful that plane was. It was beautiful! The seats were bright orange and red with red floral carpeting. I spent the next seven hours watching Bollywood films and eating Indian food. It was great!

In the end it turns out flying Air India helped with the transition and I'm glad I did it. 

Why India?

"What is actual is actual only for one time, and only for one place."

-T.S. Eliot

...which is why I believe it is necessary to experience actuality in different times and different places to discover what is actually... real. I'm not sure if this is even possible yet, but it is one of the reasons I am going to India this semester and that is the best explanation I can give.